Machine for wrapping a cover over a receptacle



y 1962 w. E. CHEELEY ET AL 3,036,416

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING A COVER OVER A RECEPTACLE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 10. 1959 FIG. 2

m 0 Y T E M E WH c W W D E M M m W m m w W. D R m m M M M M FIG.I

ATTORNQYS May 29, 1962 w. E. CHEELEY ET AL 3,036,416

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING A COVER OVER A RECEPTACLE Filed June 10, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVENTORS WILLIAM EDWARD 011mm WILLIAM CRAWFORD MQ-CPHERSON was? 'FIG. 4 M

ATTORNE Y y 1962 w. E. CHEELEY ET AL 3,036,416

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING A COVER OVER A RECEPTACLE Filed June 10, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.

INVENTORS ATTORNEY I72 WILLIAM EDWARD CHEELEY WILLIAM CRAWFORD MfiPHERSON BY y 1962 w. E. CHEELEY ET AL 3,036,416

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING A COVER OVER A RECEPTACLE Filed June 10, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N & ENTORS WILLIAM EDWARD CHEELEY Y WILLIAM CRAWFORD M PHERSON FIG. 7 B 2% ATJUWEXS y 1962 w. E. CHEELEY ET AL 3,036,416

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING A COVER OVER A RECEPTACLE Filed June 10, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FEED ROLLS KNFE 500 V 200 I W EYE [1 W 202 I88 L Q 54 52 2'0 WILLIAM EDWARD CHEELEY WILLIAM CRAWHJRD M PHERS0N ATTORNEYS" IN VENTORS May 29, 1962 w. E. CHEELEY ET AL 3,

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING A COVER OVER A RECEPTACLE Filed June 10,1959

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 14 INVENTORS WILLIAM EDWARD CHEELEY 355mm CRAWFORD MQCPHERSON United States 3,036,416 MACIHQE FOR WRAPPING A COVER OVER A RECEPTACLE William Edward Cheeley, Bon Air, and William Crawford MacPhers-on, Henrico County, Va, assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., 2 corporation of Delaware Filed June 10, 1959, Ser. No. 819,319 26 Claims. (Cl. 53-342) This invention relates to a machine for folding or wrapping a cover over an open top of a receptacle.

Open top receptacles, particularly shallow substantially rectangular receptacles, are used in large quantities for packaging various commodities, such as frozen dinners and other frozen and unfrozen materials. It is necessary that a bendable or flexible cover be wrapped, bent, folded or crimped around the edge of the open top of the receptacle to protect the contents. Such receptacles often have a surrounding flange and bead around the open top, around which the flexible cover is to be wrapped.

Ordinarily these receptacles and covers are made of a metallic foil-like sheet, generally of aluminum or aluminum alloy, in varying gauge or thickness. Frozen dinner trays, cited as a typical example, are now approximately 7 by 9 inches at the open top, and are of sub stantially rectangular shape. They are between and inch in height, and are generally made of aluminum foil or sheet material from 0.004 to 0.008 inch more or less, in thickness. These examples are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. It has been a problem of considerable magnitude to provide a machine capable quickly, efiiciently, and cheaply to apply covers in large quantities to such receptacles.

A machine according to this invention is adapted to wrap covers over receptacles of this type in an efficient and improved manner. The machine may be made of unitary construction, to which are connected feeding and discharge belts for conveying the receptacles and a strip feed for the cover material, the machine being adapted to operate at relatively high speed automatically or by manual control. The machine also is adapted for use with receptacles of various types, sizes, shapes, and for use with various types of contents.

This machine is particularly useful in connection with aluminum or aluminum alloy sheet or foil receptacles and covers, and wherever the word aluminum is used herein in the broad sense, such word is intended to include not only commercial aluminum but also aluminum alloys suitable for the purposes herein described.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a machine having the foregoing characteristics, and which performs the covering operation in an improved, quick, and eflicient manner.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle adapted to be covered by the cover shown above the receptacle.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the machine for covering the receptacle of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic vertical cross-section, in reduced scale, of the machine shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-section, on enlarged scale, taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-section, on enlarged scale, taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic and schematic showing of the interconnection of the parts of the machine.

3,336,415 Fatented May 29, 1962 IQQ FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic vertical cross-section of the elevator platform loading mechanism.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross-section of the knock-out operating mechanism.

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic representation of the foil strip feed for the machine.

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic view along line ilk-10 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic vertical view showing the elevator, receptacle and pressure plate about to hold the cover on the receptacle during travel to the crimping die.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 showing the elevator, receptacle, cover and pressure plate within the crimping die.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 showing the die wrapping the cover around the rim of the receptacle.

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 showing a later step in which the covered receptacle is about to be delivered to the discharge belt conveyor.

FIGURE 15 is a cross-section taken along line 15-15 of FIGURES 2 and 5.

FIGURE 16 is a top view of a flanged guide-way.

FIGURE 17 is a side view of FIGURE 16.

FIGURE 18 is a top view of a corner crimping member.

FIGURE 19 is a top view of a slidable member, in reduced scale.

FIGURE 20 is a top view of a spacer plate, in reduced scale.

FIGURE 21 is a top view of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 22 is a vertical cross-section along the line 22-22 of FIGURE 21.

FIGURE 23 is a vertical elevation of a part of FIG- URE 8 viewed from the line 23-23 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 24 is a wiring diagram for the machine of FIGURES 1-23.

The machine herein disclosed may be incorporated in a unitary stand or frame, not shown, by which the various parts are supported.

Open top receptacles 20, FIGURE 6, with the contents therein, may be introduced into the machine by a feed belt 22 which preferably has receptable receiving flexible fingers 24 for positively advancing the receptacles. In the particular construction herein disclosed, the receptacles are substantially rectangular, shallow, and have slightly rounded corners 26, as shown in FIGURE 1. These receptacles may have an open top which is surrounded by a flat flange 28 and a surrounding head 30, as shown in FIGURE 7. Also, if desired, the receptacles may have a plurality of compartments 32, FIGURE 1, for the reception of the various contents, such as meats, vegetables, etc. in the case of frozen dinners, and the like. The receptacles 20. are advanced by the feed belt 22, rightward in FIGURE 6, and the fingers 24 advance the receptacles along two rim supporting rails 34 on each side of the belt 22. The flanges 28 and beads 30 of the receptacles ride on the rails 34 to a position where, they are fed over the receptacle holding platform 36, as shown in FIGURE 7, where the receptacles are serially stopped by the stop-plate 3S.

The receptacle-holding latform 36 may be provided with receptacle-holding flanges 40, FIGURE 7, to hold the receptacle substantially in the correct position. The

platform 36 is elevated by proper elevating means, which I the platform 36 as required to produce the series of cycles to be described. The cam groove 49 is diagrammatically shown as circular in FIGURE 6, but it is understood that the same is curved or contoured properly to time and move the platform 36 up and down at proper times as required by the particular construction and cycle of the machine.

At the start of a cycle, an open top receptacle is moved along the rails 34 by the feed belt 22 in timed relationship to the upward movement of the platform 36 so the receptacle 20 is transferred from the rails 34- directly on to the platform 36, FIGURE 6. The platform 36 then is elevated to the position shown in FIGURE 7, where it picks up the receptacle 20 and elevates it to the position shown in FIGURE 11. There the rim or bead 30 of the receptacle is about to engage the severed or separate cover 52 which is held by the guides 54 in the grooves 56 in a loose manner and into which the cover 52 has been introduced in a manner later to be described. At this time a pressure plate 58 has been lowered by the pressure plate supporting rods 60 to a position immediately above the cover 52.

The pressure plate 58 has a downwardly directed flange 62 which has a bead cooperating portion 64. The receptacle 20 continues to move upwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 11, while the pressure plate 58 continues to move downward. The plate 58 eventually meets the cover 52 and bead 30, just above the position of the cover 52, after which the cover 52 is correctly held loosely on the bead 30 of the receptacle.

The flange 62 of the pressure plate surrounds a space 66 which permits the cover 52 to bulge upwardly, if necessary, to accommodate irregularly shaped contents of the receptacle 20, such as pieces of chicken and the like. The plate 58 is held on top of the receptacle 20 by its own weight, or by the weight of various actuating parts of the cover, if desired, or by downward spring action, such as'shown in FIGURES 8 and 2l-23, wherein the two rods 60 are shown to be provided with a transverse pin 68 which is received within the forks 70 of the two rods 72. The rods 72 are fulcrumed at 74 and are actuated upwardly by the closing cam 76, which is provided with a suitable notch 78 to permit the spring construction 79 to move the pressure plate 58 downward approximately to a position slightly'lower than that shown in FIGURE 11, at the proper time.

The receptacle 20, cover 52, and pressure plate 58 continue to be elevated from the position of FIGURE 11 by proper means to the position shown in FIGURE 12, with the upper part of the receptacle, the cover 52, and the pressure plate 58 within the wrapping die 80.

Means are provided to'operate the die 80 to wrap the edge 82 of the cover around the open top of the receptacle at the flange 28 and bead 30. Means are also provided to lower the platform 36, receptacle 20, cover 52 and pressure plate 58 from the crimping die 80 in proper relationship and sequence to be described. Means are also provided to remove the receptacle and cover from the platform 36 and to place it on a discharge conveyor 84 in a manner more specifically to be described.

4 .FIGURE 13 shows a step immediately following'the time when the edge 82 of the cover has been completely wrapped around the bead 30 of the receptacle. Means are provided and are operating at this time to lower the platform 36 from the die 80 while retaining the receptacle 20, cover 52, and pressure plate 58 in the die, or otherwise separated vertically from the platform 36. Such means may take the form of thecrirnping or wrapping bars 86, which are now in their inward position to arrest or'retain the bead 30 and flange 28 within the die 80,

while the platform 36 is not arrested by the bars 86 and is moved downward by the rod 42 and cam 48 of FIG- 1 URE 6. The platform 36 continues to move downward to the initial or starting position shown in FIGURE 6.

-: Means are provided to arrest or catch the receptacle 20 and cover 58 in a position above the lowered platform 36, and to remove the receptacle and cover sidewise from under the die and onto the discharge conveyor 84. This action is shown in FIGURE 14 in combination with FIGURE 6. After the platform 36 has descended a sufficient distance, one (or more) movable table 88 moves under the die 80, such as by moving from the position shown in FIGURE 6 to the position shown in FIGURE 14, in a position to arrest or catch the receptacle 20 and the cover 52 when they are dropped from the crimping die 86. The means to remove the receptacle and cover sidewise from under the die Sit-may take the form of a bar or plunger 90 which pushes the receptacle 2t) sidewise from the table 88 onto the discharge conveyor 84 which carries the covered receptacles to any desired location or place of use.

The last named movable plate 88 is movable sidewise from under the die 80 to its original position, as shown in FIGURE 6, during the start of another repeated operation, or cycle, to permit the platform 36 again to raise a receptacle and cover into the die 80.

The receptacle 2i) and cover 52 are released from the die 80 by the outward movement of the crimping bars 86 from their inward position shown in FIGURE 13 to their outward position shown in FIGURE 14. This outward movement of the crimping bars 86 permits the receptacle to drop as shown in FIGURE 14. In addition, the pressure plate 58, which is being held in its up position during this portion of the cycle by the lever 72 is given a bump to cause the receptacle to drop, if it does not drop of its own accord. This bump of the pressure plate 58 may be provided by the sharp bump valley 92, FIG- URE 8, which slightly bumps the pressure plate 58 down to bump or knock the receptacle 20 downward and out of the die 30, as shown in FIGURE 14.

Details of the crimping die 80 are more particularly shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4, 5 and 15.

The crimping die 80 has a stationary die cover or plate 94 and a movable top plate 96. The plates 94 and 96 are relatively movable toward and away from each other inwardly and outwardly to move the crimping bars 86 to curl the edge 32 of the cover 58 around the bead 30 of the receptacle. Upward movement of the plate 96 is arrested by the bolt heads 98 of the bolts 108, which are threaded into the die cover 94. Springs 102 urge the plates 94 and 96 away from each other.

The plate 96 is moved up and down by means of a pair of the link or bell cranks 104, FIGURE 6, which press down on opposite sides of plate 96. The bell cranks 104 are rocked about their fulcrums 105 by means of the two rods 106 which are actuated by the closing cams 188, which act on the pins 116, which are connected to the rods 186, horizontally to move the two rods 106, as indicated by the double-headed arrow 112. The rods 106 are each provided with a fork 114 which straddle the shaft 116 which drives the cams 108 and 76. The cams 108 are each provided with a hill 118 which engages the pin each'of which is connected to and move the rods 106 rightward to lower the plate 96 at the proper time, by means of the bell cranks 184. When the hills 118 of cams 108 have passed the pins 110, the springs 102, FIGURE 3, move the plate 96 upward and the rods 1'06 leftward. The hills 118 are properly positioned to move the plate 96 downward at the proper time to crimp or bend the edge 82 of the cover 52, as will become apparent.

The bell cranks 104 act on the wear plates 120 on opposite edges of movable plate 96 to move the plate 96 downward.

The crimping die 86 is provided at its four lower edges with four preliminary curling lips 122 which preliminary curl the edge 82 of the cover 52, as indicated in FIGURE 12. These lips 122 are carried by side plates 124 which are bolted to the stationary die cover 94 by means of the bolts 126. The curling lips 122 form a substantially rectangular preliminary edge curling lip through which,

the substantially rectangular open top receptacle 20 and the loose bendable cover 58 on the open top are adapted to be moved into the die for the preliminary bending of the edge 82 cover 52 around the top, as shown in FIGURE 12.

A plurality, such as four, rectangularly shaped corner crimping members 128 are secured respectively to four slidable members 138 by screws 129. The slidable members 130 are slidably supported under the stationary plate 94 by means of the flanged guideways 132. The crimping members 128 have corner crimping bars or lips 86 at their lower edges. The guideways 132 have flanges 134 on which ride flanges 136 of the slots 137 in slidable member 1317. The guideways 132 are secured to the plate 94 by means of the bolts 138, FIGURES 5 and 15, and by the pins 141 There are two guideways 132 for each movable member 138, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The slidable members 130 are each diagonally movable toward and away from the center of the die 88 or receptacle 26 by means of the respective bell cranks 142, FIGURES 4 and 11-14. These bell cranks 142 are rockably supported on fulcrum pins 144 which are carried by lugs 146, FIGURE 4, which are secured to the stationary plate 94 by means of bolts or screws 148.

The ball-shaped ends 150 of the bell cranks 142 extend into bearing sleeves 152 which are carried by the slidable members 131). When the bell cranks 142 are rocked about fulcrums 144 the movable members 130 and the attached crimping members 128 and crimping bars 86 are moved diagonally toward the center of the die to wrap the edge 82 of cover 52 around the bead 30 of the container 29, as illustrated in FIGURES 12 and 13.

The preliminary curling lips 122 initially slightly curl or bend the sides 153 of the edges of the cover 52 around the straight sides 154, FIGURE 1, of the open top of the receptacle 2%, and the corner crimping members 128 con pletely wrap the corners 26 and straight sides 154 of the container with the edge 82 of the cover 52.

The bell cranks 142 are rocked by the relative movement of the plates 94 and 96 toward and away from each other. The movable plate 96 has corner wear plates 156, FIGURE 4, respectively at each corner. The wear plates 156 are secured by screws 158 to the plate 96, and actuate the upper ends 160 of the bell cranks 142. Hence when the movable plate 96 is moved down relatively to stationary plate 94, the movable members 130 and crimping bars or lips 86 are moved toward the center of the die 84) and receptacle 2t) completely to wrap the edge 82 of the cover 52 around the periphery or bead 30 of the receptacle 2G. Upward movement of the plate 96, conversely, moves the movable members 136 and lips 86 away from the center of the die and receptacle.

When the lips 86 are in their inward position, their ends substantially meet each other at 162, FIGURE 2. The lips 86 move outwardly a sutficient distance to permit the covered receptacle to fall out of the die, as indicated in FIGURES l3 and 14.

A spacer plate 164, shown in reduced scale in FIGURE 20, is secured under the stationary plate 94 by a plurality of screws 166, FIGURE 3, and pins 168, and has an irregular edge 170. A plurality of horizontal spring receiving holes 172, FIGURES 2 and 5, are provided to hold compression springs 174. These springs 174 produce an outward push on the edge 176 of the slidable member 130' to move the slidable member 130 outwardly when the movable plate 96 is raised.

The spacer plate 164 also has vertical openings 178, FIGURE 3, which receive compression springs 188 which act upwardly against the bottom of stationary plate 94 and downwardly against the heads 182 of bolts 184. The bolts 184 have nuts 186 at their upper ends which limit the downward movement of the bolts 184. The heads 182 of the bolts 184 press downwardly on the pressure plate 58 and resiliently push its flange 62 down against the cover 52 of the receptacle 29 to maintain the cover 52 tight around the inside edge of the bead 3t 8 while the edge 82 of the cover 52 is being wrapped around the outside of the bead 30.

The metallic strip material for covers 52 is fed and cut for introduction into guides 54 by mechanism, such as shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. Metfllic foil-like sheet material, such as aluminum foil or aluminum foil-like sheet material 185, of proper width for one dimension of cover 52, is fed from the roll 186 of such sheet material past the guide roll 188 and past the electric eye switch 190. The sheet material may have an electric eye target printed on it at spaced intervals corresponding to the other dimension of the cover 52. The eye switch 190 stops the feed when the correct length of sheet material 185 has been fed into the foil guides 54, FIGURE 6. The knife construction 192 then cuts the material 185.

The sheet material 185 is fed by feed rolls 194 and 196 at proper intervals. The roll 196 is actuated through bevel gearing 198 by a rack 200, gear 201 and shaft 202. The rack 200 is reciprocated with an intermittent motion which is timed with the machine cycle. The rack 200 is fastened to reciprocating links 203 and 204 which are connected to crank or eccentric gear 206 which is geared to a gear sector 208 which is driven by an electric motor to produce the properly timed reciprocation and feed. The rack 200 is connected to link 203 by adjustable stops 210 which are adjustably connected to the rack 200 and extend into slot 212 in link 203 to provide adjustable reciprocation for various lengths of feed for covers 52.

Alternatively the rolls 194 and 196 may be driven by an individual motor, with proper speed reducing gearing if desired. The individual motor may be controlled by the electric eye 1%.

Reverting to details of the drive for the pressure plate 58, and particularly to FIGURES 2, 3, 6, 8 and 21-23, the two supporting rods 66 pass loosely through the transverse pin 68. The pin 68 has two grooves 212 which receive the forks 70 of the two levers 72. The pin 68 also has two enlarged end pieces 214, with flat upper and lower faces 216 and 218 respectively. Stop collars 220 are secured to the supporting rods 60 by suitable screws or bolts 222 and ordinarily rest on the upper faces 216 of pin 68. Springs 224 engage the stop bar 26 at one end and the lower faces 218 of pin 68 at the other end.

The double levers 72 are urgeddownwardly by the spring construction 79 which may include the bracket 228, suitably supported in the machine, the compression spring 230, and the rod-washer construction 232 which is hinged to the levers 72 by coupling 234. When the valley 78 of cam 76 engages the roller 236, the levers 72 are pulled down by spring 230, which, in turn, causes the fork 70 to lower the pin 68, springs 224, plate 226, supporting rods 69 and pressure plate 58 substantially to the position of FIGURE 11. The plate 226 engages the rubber washers 238 on movable plate 96 of the die and stop the pressure plate 58 substantially in'the position shown in FIGURE 11. The pressure plate 58 may then rise to the position of FIGURE 12 with the receptacle 20 and platform 36 while the levers 72 remain partly down, because the rods 60 can compress the springs 224 slightly. The rods 69 can slide upwardly through the enlarged end pieces 214 of the pin 68. The levers 72 are raised when the valley 78 of cam 76 passes beyond the pulley 236 of levers 72. Later, when the bump valley 92 reaches the pulley 236, the levers 72 and members actuated thereby are given a downward bump which bumps the pressure plate 58 sufiiciently to knock out the covered receptacle from the die 80, as indicated in FIG- URE 14. Y

The arrangement of springs 224, 231), stop collar 220, levers 72, etc., insures that the pressure plate 58 is positively raised when the pin 68 engages the collar 220, and also permits the pressure plate 58 to rise independently of cam 76 while the pressure plate' is rising from the position of FIGURE 11 to the position of FIGURE 12.

The upper ends of supporting rods 69 may be guided in bearings 238 carried by any rod or bracket construction 240 which can be supported on the frame of the machine. The lower portions of the rods 60 may be guided by bearings 242, in the stationary plate 94. The various steps heretofore described may be controlled automatically, semi-automatically or manually, as desired. For example, when a receptacle 20 is carried by feed belt 22 to a selected place, such receptacle may actuate an electric eye switch to stop the feed belt 22 and start a receptacle covering cycle which includes raising the platform 36 and a receptacle 20 from the position of FIGURE 6 through the positions of FIGURES 12 and 13 and through the return positions of FIGURE 14 and back to the start position of FIGURE 6. The return to the start position of the platform 36 in FIGURE 6 may then start operation of the feed belt 22 until another receptacle 20 is advanced by belt 22 to the electric eye to start another receptacle covering cycle, in a manner to be more fully described.

All of the members of FIGURES 1-23 may be driven from one or more electric motors, desired, with proper mechanical gears, and/or magnetic clutches, cams, elec- -tric eyes, etc., to produce the movements herein described, and may be controlled as indicated in FIGURE 24.

In the simplified wiring diagram of FIGURE 24, the lines L-L' are opened and closed by a master manual switch 244 having handle 246. Motor 248 drives the conveyor 22 as long as no receptacle 20 interferes with the light 250 and electric eye relay 252. However when a receptacle 20 intervenes between the light and eye, and when receptacle 20'is in correct position to be moved by platform 36, the motor 248 and feed belt 20 (or magnetic clutch, etc.) is stopped by the downward opening of relay switch 254. The switch 254 then closes the circuit to relay solenoid 256 which pulls up the armature 256a and closes switch 25612 for a purpose to be described. The combined stop and guide 38 may stop the receptacle 20 and guide it adjacent platform 36. Also, if desired, the switch 254 may be operated directly by contact of receptacle '20 without the use of electric eye 250, 252.

Motor 258 drives the feed rollers 194, 196 and strip 185 by transmission 260 as long as the target 262 in strip 185 is out of line between electric eye 190 and electric eye relay 198a, which maintainsv switch 264 closed under these conditions. The relay 190a opens switch 264 and stops motor 258 when target 262 stops the light beamsfrom reaching relay 190a, when the correct length of strip 185 has been fed into foil guides 54.

Motor 266 runs during one complete receptacle covering cycle and'then stops. It is started by the closing of switch'25'6b and stops by the opening of switch 278. It drives various cams and transmissions diagrammatically indicated by a single emblem at 268, continuously or sequentially to produce the motions of platform 36,

including rod 42, knife 192, lever 62, plate 96, table 88, plunger 90, etc. Motor 270 drives belt 84 continuously under the control of manual switch 272, which may be kept closed except in case of emergency. When the platform 36 passes downwardly below the guide 54, the switch 274 is temporarily closed by cam 276 (which is driven by motor 266) a sufiicient time only to start motor 258 to drive the target 262 out of line between light 190 and eye relay 190a. The relay 190a then acts as a hold ing switch to energizethe motor 258 until the next target 262 moves into the light beam and causes relay 190a to open and stop the strip feed when the correct amount of strip 185 has been driven into the cover guides 54.

The motor 266 runs until the platform 36 reaches its lowermost position, at which time the motor 266 stops by the opening of switch 278 by the cam 280 which cam 280 is driven by'transmission or shaft 282 from motor 266. The cam 280 has a very small valley or actuator which will open switch 278 and stop motor 266 when platform 36 reaches its lowest position, and will cause the switch 278 to close and act as a holding switch during the next receptacle closing cycle immediately after motor 266 is again started by the closing of switch 25612. The motor 266 is started when a receptacle 20 is in correct position on feed belt 22 to be pushed on platform 36. This occurs when the electric eye 250, 252, in response to correct position of a receptacle 20, causes electric eye switch 254 to move down and energize the solenoid 256 to close starting switch 256]). If a receptacle 2!) is already in correct position when the platform 36 reaches its lowest position, switch 256b is already closed and motor 266 does not stop by the opening of switch 278 but continues to run and repeat the next receptacle closing cycle. However, if no receptacle 20 is in correct position when platform 36 reaches its lowest position, motor 266 Will stop by the opening of switch 278, and Wait until a receptacle 20 does reach a correct position and close starting switch 25Gb. Both switches 278 and 256b will be open and the motor 266 will be deenergized, until such receptacle 20 reaches said correct position.

In operation, receptacles 28, with contents therein, are placed on feed belt 22 and are advanced by the flexible fingers 24 along the rails 34 to the dotted line position in FIGURE 6 where the platform 36 has been elevated also to the dotted line position to receive the receptacle 28 as it is advanced along the rails 34.

The platform 36 with the receptacle 20 on it is further elevated by the rod 42, lever 44 and cam 48 to the position shown in FIGURE 11 where the receptacle 20 is about to engage the flexible metallic foil-like cover 52. In the meantime the pressure plate 58 has been lowered to the position of FIGURE 11 from its elevated position of FIGURE 6 by the downward movement of the levers 72. This movement is produced by engagement of the valley 78 by the roller 236 of the levers 72 in FIGURES 8 and 2123. The levers 72 lower the pin 68 and permit the supporting rods 60 to lower the pressure plate 58 approximately to the position of FIGURE 11. At this time the stop bar 226 engages the rubber washers 238 and slip the pressure plate substantially at the position of FIGURE 11.

The platform 36, receptacle 20 and cover 52, with the pressure plate 58 holding the cover on the receptacle, then move upwardly by action of the cam 48, FIGURE 6, to the position shown in FIGURE 12. As the receptacle head 38, loose cover 52 and pressure plate 58 pass the preliminary curling lips 122, the edge 82 of the cover 58 is preliminarily bent over the bead 30, as shown in FIGURE 12. The crimping bars 86 then move from their outward position of FIGURE 12 to their inward position of FIGURE 13 during which action the crimping bars 86 crimp or wrap the edge 82 of the cover completely around the head 30.

Thereafter the crimping bars 86 are retracted outwardly to the position of FIGURE 14. The pressure plate 58 is given a downward bump at this time by the action of the sharp valley 92 of the cam 76 (FIGURE 8), but is retained in the die by the cam 76. The receptacle 20, with the wrapped cover 52 on it, drops from the die 80 and is arrested by the movable plate 88 which, in the meantime, has moved from its position in FIGURE 6 to its position in FIGURE 14 directly under the die 80.

The baror plunger 90 is then moved rightward and pushes the covered receptacle 20 on to the discharge conveyor 84 by which the receptacle is removed from the covering machine and is delivered where desired.

The movable plate 88 and platform 36 are returned to the positions of FIGURE 6 in readiness to perform another receptacle covering cycle. 7

A series of covers 52 are serially introduced into the guides 52 at the proper times in relation to the operation of the other elements between the time when the platform 36 has passed down from the guides 54 and the time when it is being returned to the position of FIGURE 11. These covers 52 are fed by the mechanisms of FIG- URES 9 and 10, or any other motor and transmission, into the grooves 56 of the cover guides 54. Metallic foil-like sheet material 185, of proper width, is fed from the supply roll 186 past the guide roll 188, past the electric eye 19% to the feed rolls 194 and 196'. These rolls are driven by the rack 200, or by an individual. motor, and are controlled by the electric eye 190 which is responsive to properly placed targets on the strip 185 to produce covers 52 of proper length. The electric eye also controls operation of the knife construction 192 to cut off the covers 52 from the strip 185 at the proper time.

All of these actions may be controlled manually, semiautomatically, or automatically by proper controls such as electric motors, switches, gears, magnetic clutches, belts, cams, electric eyes, etc., which may be controlled to the desired automatic degree, as by the controls of FIGURE 24.

An improved and efiicient receptacle covering machine is thus provided.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed, as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a receptacle holding platform; a pressure plate; an edge wrapping die; means to place an open top receptacle on said platform with a loose cover on said receptacle; means to place said pressure plate in engagement with said cover to hold said cover on said open top of said receptacle; means to move said platform with said receptacle, cover and pressure plate to insert said open top of said receptacle, cover, and pressure plate in said wrapping die; means to operate said die to wrap the edge of said cover around said open top of said receptacle and to hold said receptacle and said cover; means to move said platform away from said wrapping die to cause said wrapping die to hold said receptacle and said cover independently of said platform; and means to remove said receptacle and cover from said wrapping die.

2. In combination: a receptacle holding platform; a cover holder; a pressure plate; an edge wrapping die; means to place an open top receptacle on said platform; means to elevate said platform with said open top receptacle upwardly to move said open top into engagement with a cover in said cover holder; means to place said pressure plate in engagement with said cover to hold said cover on said open top of said receptacle; means to elevate said platform With said receptacle, cover and pressure plate upwardly to insert said open top of said receptacle, cover, and pressure plate in said wrapping die; means to operate said die to wrap the edge of said cover around said open top of said receptacle and to hold said receptacle and said cover; means to move said platform away from said wrapping die to cause said wrapping die to hold said receptacle and said cover independently of said platform; and means to remove said receptacle and cover from said wrapping die, said last-named means including said pressure plate.

3. A combination according to claim 2 in which means are provided to place a series of covers in said cover holder.

4. A combination according to claim 2. which also comprises: a strip feeder; means to cut a series of covers from a metal strip fed from said strip feeder; and means serially to introduce covers from said series of covers into said cover holder.

5. A combination according to claim 1, in which said receptacle and wrapping die are substantially rectangular, and said wrapping die includes four rectangularly shaped corner wrapping members at the four corners of said wrapping die diagonally movable in a common plane toward the center of said receptacle and into engagement It) with the edges of said cover to wrap said edges around said open top, the ends of said corner wrapping members substantially meeting when said wrapping members are moved to complete wrapping position.

6. In combination: a receptacle holding platform; a cover holder; a pressure plate; an edge wrapping die; receptacle holding means to hold an open top receptacle above said platform; means to elevate said platform to lift said receptacle from said receptacle holding means; means to elevate said platform with said open top receptacle upwardly to move said open top into engagement with a cover in said cover holder; means to place said pressure plate in engagement with said cover to hold said cover on said open top of said receptacle; means to elevate said platform with said receptacle, cover and pressure plate upwardly to insert said open top of said receptacle, cover, and pressure plate in said wrapping die; means to operate said die to wrap the edge of said cover around said open top of said receptacle and to hold said receptacle and said cover; means to move said platform away from said wrapping die to cause said wrapping to hold said receptacle and said cover independently of said platform; and means to remove said receptacle and cover from said wrapping die.

7. A combination according to claim 6 in which said receptacle includes a flanged rim, and said receptacle holding means includes a pair of rim holding rails and a feed conveyor to feed said receptacle along said rails and over said platform.

8. A combination according to claim 7 in which a plurality of receptacles are serially fed by said feed conveyor over said platform, and in which said cover holder includes a strip feeder; means to cut a series of covers from a metal strip fed from said strip feeder; and means serially to introduce covers from said series of covers into said cover holder.

9. In combination: a receptacle holding platform; a pressure plate; an edge wrapping die; means to place an open top receptacle on said platform with a loose cover on said receptacle; means to place said pressure plate in engagement with said cover to hold said cover on said open top of said receptacle; means to elevate said platform with said receptacle, cover and pressure plate upwardly to insert said open top of said receptacle, cover, and pressure plate in said wrapping die; means to operate said die to wrap the edge of said cover around said open top of said receptacle; means to lower said platform from said wrapping die while retaining said receptacle, cover and pressure plate separated from said platform; and means to arrest said receptacle and cover in a position above said lowered platform and to remove said receptacle and cover sidewise from under said die and onto a discharge conveyor, said last named means being movable sidewise from under said die during the start of another repeated operation, said platform being lowered to a starting position to receive another receptacle.

10. In combination: a receptacle holding platform; a pressure plate; an edge wrapping die; means to place an open top receptacle on said platform with a loose cover on said receptacle; means to place said pressure plate in engagement with said cover to hold said cover on said open top of said receptacle; means to elevate said 'platform with said receptacle, cover and pressure plate upwardly to insert said open top of said receptacle, cover, and pressure plate in said wrapping die; means to operate said die to wrap the edge of said cover around said open top of said receptacle; means to lower said platform 7 from said wrapping die while retaining said receptacle, cover and pressure plate in said wrapping die; means to release said receptacle and cover from said die while retaining said pressure plate in said die; means to arrest said receptacle and cover in a position above said lowered platform and to remove said receptacle and cover sidewise from under said die and onto a discharge conveyor, said last named means being movable sidewise from under tangular open top receptacle with a bead around the periphery of said open top and with a loose bendable cover on said open top is adapted to be moved into said die preliminarily to bend said cover around said open top; four rectangularly shaped corner wrapping members inside said curling lip and diagonally movable in a comm-on plane toward the center of said receptacle and into engagement with the preliminarily bent cover to wrap said cover around the edge of said bead; means to move said corner members inward and outward; and a receptacle holding platform adapted to hold said receptacle with said cover and to move said open top and cover past said curling lip and into working relationship with said corner wrapping members and then out of said wrapping die.

12. A combination according to claim 11 in which a pressure plate is movable into engagement with said cover on said open top while said receptacle is outside said' die and movable with said platform, receptacle, and cover to move said open top and cover past said curling lip and into working relationship with said corner wrapping members.

13. In combination: a substantially rectangular edge wrapping die into which a substantially rectangular open top receptacle with a loose bendable cover is adapted to be moevd to Wrap said cover around said open top; and four rectangularly shaped corner wrapping members inside said die and diagonally movable in a common plane toward the center of said recetpacle and into engagement with the cover to wrap said cover around the edge of said open top of said receptacle; and means to move said corner members inward and outward.

14. A combination according to claim 13 in which a receptacle holding platform is adapted to hold said receptacle with said cover and move said open top and cover into working relationship with said corner wrapping members and then out of said crimping die.

15. A combination according to claim 1 in which said receptacle has a bead around the periphery of said open top, and said pressure plate has a bead receiving portion engaging said head to hold said cover on said receptacle.

16. A combination according to claim 1 in which said receptacle is substantially rectangular and has a bead around the periphery of said open top and in which four rectangularly shaped corner wrapping members are located in said die and are diagonally movable in a common plane toward the center of said receptacle and into engagement with the edges of said cover to wrap said edges around said open top, the ends of said corner wrapping members substantially meeting when said crimping members are moved to complete wrapping position.

17. A combination according to claim 1 in which a cam exerts an upward force on said pressure plate during a vertical movement of said pressure plate.

18. In combination: a wrapping die having a preliminary edge curling lip through which an open top receptacle with a loose bendable cover on said open top is adapted to be moved into said die preliminarily to bend said cover around said open top; a plurality of wrapping members inside said curling lip and movable toward the center of said receptacle and into engagement with said preliminarily-bent cover to bend said cover around the edge of said'open'top of said receptacle; means to move said-wrapping members inwardand outward; a receptacle holding platform adapted to hold said receptacle with said cover andmove said open top and cover'past said curling lip and into working relationship with said wrapping members and then out of said die; a pressure plate movable into engagement with said cover on said open top while said receptacle is outside said die and movable with said platform, receptacle, and cover to move said open top and cover past said curling lip and into working relationship with said wrapping members; and means to oscillate said pressure plate to bump said receptacle and .cover from said wrapping die.

19. A combination according to claim 18 in which said receptacle has a bead around the periphery of said open top, and said pressure plate has a bead receiving portion engaging said bead to hold said cover on said receptacle.

20. A method for wrapping a bendable cover around the open top of a receptacle comprising the steps of moving said receptacle into engagement with one side of said cover while simultaneously moving a pressure plate into engagement with the other side of said cover to hold said cover on said receptacle, moving said receptacle, cover and pressure plate into a wrapping die, causing said wrapping die to wrap the edges of said cover around said open top of said receptacle, and oscillating said pressure plate to bump said receptacle and cover away from said wrapping die.

21. A method for wrapping a bendable cover around the open top of a receptacle comprising the steps of placing said receptacle on a movable platform, moving said platform to cause said receptacle to engage one side of a cover while simultaneously moving a pressure plate into engagement with the other side of said cover to hold said cover on said receptacle; continuing to move said platform to cause said receptacle, cover and pressure plate to enter a wrapping die, causing said wrapping die to wrap the edges of said'cover around said open top of said receptacle and to hold said receptacle and said cover while moving said platform away from said wrapping die, and thereafter oscillating said pressure plate to bump said receptacle and cover away from said Wrapping die.

22. A method for Wrapping a bendable cover around the open top of a substantially rectangular receptacle comprising the steps of inserting said cover and said receptacle into a substantially rectangular wrapping die, and moving four wrapping members diagonally inwardly in a common plane from said wrapping die to respectively wrap said cover around'the four corners of said receptacle.

23. A method for wrapping a bendable cover around the open top of a'receptacle comprising the steps of plac- 24. In combination: a substantially rectangular edge wrapping die having a substantially rectangular opening through which a substantially rectangular open top receptacle and a bendable cover are adapted to be moved into said die; four corner wrapping members carried by said die and diagonally movable in a common plane toward the center of said receptacle to wrap the corners of said cover around the corners of said receptacle; and

.means operatively interconnected to said corner wrapping members to move said corner wrapping members inwardly and outwardly. a

25. A combination as set forth in claim 24 wherein said last-named means for moving said Icorner wrapping members includes 'four' rocker arms pivotally mounted to said die and movable in unison to cause movement of said corner wrapping members.

26. A combination as set forth in claim 25 wherein a movable plate is disposed in engagement with said rocker arms, said plate causing said rocker arms to pivot when 13 said plate is moved toward or away from said corner Wrapping members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,463,998 Hippenmeyer et a1. Aug. 7, 1923 14 Streng Mar. 21, 1933 Glunz Oct, 6, 1936 Goodwin July 27, 1943 Stanton et a1 Mar. 22, 1955 Annen Mar. 11, 1958 

